Shots fired in standoff between Chicago police and murder suspect

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Shots rang out on Chicago's South Side on Thursday as police surrounded a suspect in three killings and tried to draw him out of a house and have him surrender peacefully, authorities said.

There was an exchange of gunfire at the scene as SWAT team members took up positions around the house, police spokeswoman Laura Amezaga said.

She could not confirm if anyone was hurt and the standoff continued hours later.

About five miles away from the scene, three people were found with gunshot wounds late on Wednesday night, Amezaga said.

A 30-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man were shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene, Amezaga said. A 26-year-old woman shot in the back was taken to a local hospital and died early on Thursday, she added.

The three appeared to be from the same family and police believe the shootings are related, Chicago police First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante told reporters.

Escalante said just one "young man" was believed to be barricaded inside the residence. He is believed to be the boyfriend of the 30-year-old woman killed, WGN-TV reported.